Four years ago, I ordered the first watch from D.Dornblüth & Sohn.During this time I gathered a small collection of DD&S watches, found on the net a lot of information,managed to visit Kalbe and personally meet Dirk Dornblüth. At some point I realized that the available information needs to be summrizesn detail and decided to write a small review.

After consultation and clarification of details with Dirk and Anja I would like to present you a brief "History of D.Dornblüth & Sohn". For a description of the initial period, with the consent of Dirk, I used the text from the official website.

With thanks to Dirk and Anya for the help and patience.

The article includes facts from an interview, official web-site and information provided by Dirk Dornblüth.

(Photo from the web)

It all started on a gloomy November evening in 1959. The city of Chemnitz should be named Karl-Marx-Stadt for another 30 years, when the watchmaker Dieter Dornblüth from the village of Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt, designed his first own movement in a furnished room. For three years he went to the Erzgebirge to expand his horological knowledge. He had been occupied by an almost lost case for some time: a sterling silver pocket watch with an extralarge eccentric second display and a sturdy movement of high quality. During his long repair job, Dornblüth became so fond of this pocket watch that he was rather sad when its owner came to pick it up on that particular November day. That same evening, Dornblüth sat down and started designing a sturdy wristwatch movement in the image of the pocket watch he just had to give away, without giving too much consideration to its height and diameter. He had just finished his plans and the first wheels sat in place on the plate already, when the freshly appointed master watchmaker was called to Kalbe, Saxony- Anhalt, to take over the abandoned watchmaker business of Elsa and Paul Beckmann.
The dream of his own Dornblüth caliber vanished in one of the drawers of a workbench. Daily routine work and the success of the repair shop that soon grew to seven employees made it impossible for Dieter Dornblüth to follow up on the plan of creating an own movement.
Until October 1st, 1999, when Dieter Dornblüth celebrated his 60th birthday, Dieter's son Dirk Dornblüth, already master watchmaker himself, presented a stainless steel watch that he had created all by himself, with its movement based on the legendary Glashütte caliber 60.1. So great was the pleasure that the father revealed the story about his long forgotten plans of an own movement which he had kept to himself for the last 40 years. That same evening father and son started to sketch out the design of a possible base caliber on a paper napkin. This way, the father's vision from 1959 was brought back to life again.

Father's watch (Photo from the web)

It has to be said that Dirk grew up in his father's watchmakershop and was fascinated from the first day of mechanic. He began to study watchmaking in the age of 16 and won the regional competition in the age of 18. Initially he used to be involved into watch refinery, including Russian made chronograph movements for a number of German collectors. Over time, he developed a fly-back mechanism for the cam-lever modulesand was granted a patent. Later that patent was used in payment for the first 40 cases of Walter Fricker in Pforzheim. Later on Dirk Dornblüth declines the services of Fricker factory and until today he obtains cases from a small local factory.

Thus, in October 1999 he started working on the first Cal.99.2 model. A solid UNITAS 6497 was used as a basic movement. The decision was made to include a power reserve indicator at 3 o'clock in order to balance out the small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock. New brand had the dream to realize the development a production without CNC-machines with great deal of hand work. This is the credo of D.D.Dornblüth & Sohn until today.

However, the challenge to include a power reserve indicator into the mechanism was not al all easy to solve. The solution appeared to be unexpected. One day Dieter Dornblüth was waiting for his car to be repaired at a local body shop. And when he was browsing over engine models on display in the office of that garage, he discovered the drawing conic differential transmission rear axle. Having asked to take the draft for a while, he took it and studied with his son in order to find a way to use the mechanism for a power reserve indicator. Their efforts resulted in the creation of a 3-wheel 2.98-mm-tall power reserve mechanism.

(Photos from the web)

In addition, having included an intermediate gear, with friction spring and cantilevered second pinion they managed to move the center of a smaller second dial for ½ circle radius and to arrange both indicators symmetrically.
Cal.99.0 was created simultaneously: location of the small second of the dial corresponds to the basic caliber of UNITAS 6498.
Both models were presented in 2001 and in 2002 the sales started in Germany. Their popularity escalated and as well as sales geography: in 2003 D.Dornblüth & Sohn watches were being sold in Europe and the USA. It should be noted that apart from the standard versions made of steel and rose gold Cal.99.2 was presented in a limited edition of 40 items in platinum cases.

Cal.99.2 (Photos from the web)

Cal.99.0 (Photos from the web)

In November 2003 Dirk Dornblüth sends a letter for the clients in order to inform them of the new developments with regard to 2 new calibers and further mechanism alterations. In particular, the number of jewels was increased to 20, the firm's logo was placed on a crown, etc.

Initially the workshop was situated in the father's shop. (Photo from the web)

The small workshop was not enough to satisfy the increased demand and in 2003 the decision was made to equip a new workplace nearby the father's house. A new showroom was placed there as well. In 2005 the new workshop was reconstructed and extended, which made it possible to employ four additional masters.

Three years after the creation of Cal.99.0 the father and the son decided to readjust its design. They felt the small seconds subdial was placed too far on the outside of the dial, being a disharmony of a severe watch design. Following the hard searches the watchmakers came to the conclusion that the best solution would be to increase the size of seconds dial and shift it closer to the center of the dial. In that position the smaller watch face was not crossing the minute dial and the marks 5 and 7. Technical implementation of the design was performed by Dieter Dornblüth, Dirk Dornblüth and Klaus Kontzog. Similar to Cal.99.2 the basic caliber Unitas 6498 was adjusted with intermediate wheel with friction spring and cantilevered second pinion analogous to central second-hand of the Lange deck watch.

Cal.99.1 (Photos from the web)

At the end of 2004 a new model Cal.03.0 (Mini) was announced. That was a limited edition of the first model for women from D.Dornblüth & Sohn; it comprised 25 pcs. which were created in 2005.. The base caliber GUB 60.3 was readjusted in accordance with the philosophy of D.Dornblüth & Sohn and included into a stainless steel 33 mm in diameter.

Cal.03.0 (Photos from the web)

In March 2006 a new limited edition model Cal.04.0 (Midi) was presented to the public. This time calibers AS 1560 and GUB were readjusted and were included into a case 38 mm in diameter. 60 pcs. of stainless steel and 15 pcs. of 18K rose gold were created during 2 years. The base model have embossed numerals. At the request of customers on several models were installed applied numerals (3-4 pcs.) and also known one model inthe rose gold case with enamel dial.

The next in turn were the new models within the 99 series: Cal.99.3 and Cal.99.4. Cal.99.3 is a combination of small second indicators (at 9 o'clock), power reserve (at 12 o'clock) and date (at 3 o'clock); Cal.99.4: small second indicators (at 9 o'clock) and date (at 3 o'clock). Both models include pointer-type date display button for fast date correction (at 2 o'clock).These models were officially presented in March 2007.

Cal.99.3 (Photos from the web)

Cal.99.4 (Photos from the web)

The necessity of an exact adjustment of the second indication for the precise regulation of the watch in base calibers UNITAS 6497/6498 led to the idea of the mechanism "Quattro Arret", which allows for stopping both the watch and the second hand in steps of 90° and thus starting it precisely. Joint efforts of Dirk Dornblüth and Klaus Kontzog made it possible for this function to be integrated optionally since 2007.

Quattro Arret (Photo from the web)

In March 2008 two new models were presented: Regulator and Center Second. Inspired by the repair of old precision pendulum clock Dirk Dornblüth comes to a decision to reconsider classic ideal and bring his own vision. The Regulator expands the timepiece variety of the manufacture having a traditional minute hand (centered) and hour hand (at 6 o'clock) location. The watch includes its firm power reserve indicator at the 12 o'clock position and a central second hand with a stopping option. The mechanism is additionally adjusted with the intermediate wheel and seconds pinion below a separate bridge; an engraved brass dial is created on their own. 75% of the parts are manufactured in the manufactory.

Regulator (Photos from the web)

The Center Second supplies the family of 3-hand-timepieces. Similar to the Regulator their mechanism is additionally adjusted hacked central seconds hand and intermediate wheel and seconds pinion below a separate bridge.

Center Second (Photos from the web)

Grained second's pinion bridge

Seconds pinion bridge with Geneva stripe finish

While visiting the Gorch Fock I museum Dirk Dornblüth suggested to repair the barque's marine chronometer. Wulf Marquard, representative of non-commercial organization Tall-Ship Friends (the barque's owner) approved of this idea. In the course of the works Dirk Dornblüth decided to create watch analogous to the marine chronometer. On June 27, 2008 on the 75th anniversary of the Gorch Fock vessel's creation, the chronometer was placed on its original location. The new watch model was presented as well: D.Dornblüth & Sohn Gorch Fock I. The limited edition included 75 items, supplied in a special mahogany box for marine chronometers. The grainy silvered brass dial processed in the tradition technique of old marine chronometers, the movement is placed in a 47 mm case with cone bezel. Part of the funds, raised from every Gorch Fock I model's sales, are given to the Tall-Ship Friends organization to restore and enhance the Gorch Fock I barque. (Photos from the web)

A year later, on June 22, 2009 Dirk Dornblüth presented a cheque to Wulf Marquard as a first contribution for Tall-Ship Friends.

In 2009, 50 years after the first time Dieter Dornblüth reflected over the creation of his own mechanism, Dirk Dornblüth and his team started projecting an in-house caliber 2010.

The year of 2010 included a number of special events. One of them was an expansion of the Regulator model range. Two new models with black and black-and-white dials were presented on a fair in Basel. (Photos from the web)

On June 5, 2010 Dirk and Anja celebrated their marriage in a local church.

The bride wore a brand new watch model - Cal.09 Jasmin (the model was presented at Basel 2010). That was the second model for women; it comprised 75 pcs. and was created on the basis of the vintage movement ETA 1120. Mechanism data were obtained from Helmut Sinn, the creator and the owner of the self-named Sinn company. Another outstanding feature of that model was an option to complete the watch with a guilloche dial ("rombe" or "solar"). This model was open for requests until 2012.(Photos from the web)

Cal.09 Jasmin (guilloche "solar")

Cal.09 Jasmin (guilloche ("rombe")

September that same year, at the request of one of the clients, Dirk Dornblüth started a new work on Cal.99.5. This model has the same functions as Cal.99.3, but with a central second. He worked on the model over the year and finished it in October 2011. Still, the watch was included into the official catalogue in September 2012.

On September 21, 2012 on the 50th anniversary of D.Dornblüth & Sohn, two new models were presented: Q-2010 Klassik and Q-2010 Auf & Ab. Both models include the first in-house calibers 2010.1 and 2010.2.(Photos from the web)

In tribute to the memory of the past the new models are functionally analogous to the first models Cal.99.0 and Cal.99.2, as applicable. However, the case diameter of the models is 38 mm.
In models Q-2010 Auf & Ab the power reserve indicator (12 o'clock) and second dial (6 o'clock) reflect the positions of old marine chronometers.With a due respect to the old watchmakers Dirk Dornblüth and his team developed a unique Maltese cross construction, visible through sapphire glass, which realizes an almost linear torque to power the balance by means of two barrels connected in series, thus permitting a higher rate accuracy. Further, the construction serves as an interlock device which can clearly be noticed when the watch is fully wound. Apart from the big screw balance with a Breguet spring the team integrated another classic element of the 1940s: the short anchor escapement with a lowered escape wheel. This special construction considerably reduces the positional errors caused by the anchor escapement. Similar to the old precision pocket watches, the surface of the ¾ movement plate is grained.(Photos from the web)

Q-2010 KLASSIK

Q-2010 Auf und Ab

The foundation stone of the new workshop was solemnly laid the same day.

In 2013, the participants of the Polish watch forum KMZiZ contacted the company D.Dornblüth & Sohn with a proposal to make a limited edition Cal.99.2 in honor of the 10th anniversary of the forum. The peculiarity of the model is a blue-white dial with memorable engraving "KMZiZ LE" at 3/4 plate. The limited edition of 10 pcs. Watches were presented on June 2014.

In October 2013, a group of enthusiasts from the Russian watch forum Watch.ru addressed with a proposal to create a limited series edition Cal.99.0 with a bronze case. Following the details negotiations the work started in December and comprises 15 pcs. ; the work is planned to be finished by October 2014.

In December 2013, the company announced the development of Cal.99.8 for the international watch fan club CronotempVs in Spain. Based onCal.99.2 the new model has a number of brand new complications: moonphase indicator, day/night and full/new moon countdown indicators. Furthermore, there is a second subdial (9 o'clock) and a power reserve indicator at 3 o'clock. The series is limited by the number of 33 items; the work is planned to be finished by December 2015.

Starting from 2014, all models have second's stop mechanism.

In February 2014, the manufactory moved to the new building...

Also the link you can find in the comparative table of prices for the period 2004-2014. Unfortunately I could not find all the prices for this period and I will be grateful for additional information.

The rat stops gnawing in the wood, the dungeon walls withdraw, the weight is lifted. Nerve ends that stuck through your skin like bristles when you blotted the last line or shut the office door behind you have withdrawn into their sheaths. Your pulse steadies and the sun has found your heart. You were wrong about the day, you did more admirably than you believed, you did well enough, you did well. The day was not bad, the season has not been bad, there is sense and even promise in going on. --Bernard DeVoto

The father and son story is very appealing. The watches themselves always seem in pictures to be examples of solid and sincere quality. The moon phase model is a bit over busy... And why do Germans feel the need to write the function of things on the dial. We know it's a moon phase.... Well you can't have everything. In my past post I dismissed Muhle's latest marine design watch, asking 'why bother...' But here with a very similar design, something feels so sincere and of such quality... And the story of the father and son so irresistible... It's funny how such similar design watches can evoke such opposing reactions.

I also believe that Cal.99.8 (the moon phase model) is a over busy and I don't quite understand the necessity of the day/night indicator in this configuration. But note that this model will be made according to customer specifications in limited edition.I think that in the future Dirk expand the model range with use of the developed modules.

"And why do Germans feel the need to write the function of things on the dial."

I am incredibly fortunate to have both a 04.0 and a Quintus, both with applied numerals. I'm not sure based on my correspondence with Dirk that there any others with this special pair. Really one of the great experiences in watch ownership one can have. Thanks for the article.